London - practical issues
 

Hi! I read somewhere that you can exchange traveler's checks at post offices with little or no fees or charges. Can any one add to that?

Also, planning in advance, what are London/Edinburg like in July. I live in New Mexico heat is the name of the game. Any practical advice for things that would help, already planning on layering, but ideas of things you've taken that made life liveable would be appreciated. Thanks

Julie

if you have american express trav cks, the amex office will cash them for free (dollars to pounds) i think some other trav ck companies will do the same....the PO does not sound right to me....

Julie, a lot of people on this board think traveler's checks are an outdated pain in the rear end compared to using ATMs for currency and you can count me among them. As for layering, July is mid-summer and you can expect pleasant average afternoon temperatures in the high-60s to low-70s F degrees (but compared to a hot summer day in parts of New Mexico, I suppose that's long sleeve weather!) Something that comes in handy? I hope you won't necessarily need it, but one of those short-foldup umbrellas.

Flyboy is right on. During our last visit to the U.K we observed some people having problems even getting travelers checks accepted! ATM is much better but unless you need cash use credit cards wherever possible. Usually get a better rate of exchange. If you are set on using travelers checks exchange them in London at the Foreign Exchange department in the large Marks and Spencer on Oxford Street [near Marble Arch] I don't think any other branches offer that convenience and they give a good rate

Correction to an above post. American Express will NOT cash your US to GBP traveler's cheques for free. They will charge you a horrible exchange rate. They may not call it a fee, but it will cost you dearly. At least that was always true in the days when I carried them. I have long ago learned better and now use credit cards and the ATM for everything.

jarmnm

Traveller's cheques - and most foreign currency - can be cashed at about 600 of the UK's 16,500 post offices. The service is provided to make a profit for both the Post Office and for its joint venture partner. Its rates are competitive, and often emerge as the best, or close to, in consumer value for money surveys. Commission isn't a separate item, but the net, net rate you pay isn't always better than other banks will be offering on a given day.

As with anything, if you really want the best deal, you need to shop round all the retail banks and exchange bureaux. Just walk up and down the street looking at rates. If that sounds more trouble than it's worth (and it usually is), the post office rate won't be far away from the best deal you'll get.

Britain's post offices vary widely in the services they offer (almost all are privately owned), and most outlets in central London are too small to offer this service. To find the most convenient branch, go to http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/p...ediaId=1500004, press "sell foreign currency" then use the branch finder

But the real answer is not to use TCs, which are increasingly a steam-age product without the elegance of a steam engine. And seriously difficult to use in Europe anyway.

We always take some TC as emergency funds, but have to agree with above on the whole. Exchanging TCs in France is a pain to put it mildly...less and less are willing to make the exhcange at any cost!

We don't use TCs any more, but when we were in London and Paris several years ago the AMEX exchange rates over there were very competitive. Has this changed?

Hi J,

One more vote against TCs except for emergency reserve.

Open a checking count at a bank that has a low fee for out-of-network withdrawls (mine charges 75 cents) and use an ATM card for cash.

Use your CC where possible.

We found the best rates and lowest fees at the Marks and Spencer stores.

First off, credit card is the best way to go, lose the traveller's checks. I was in both London and Edinburgh last July. Edinburgh was in the 50's-60's during the day... wear pants, long-sleeve shirt and a light jacket.n Dduring the night it dropped into the low 40's, so bring a sweatshirt or something you can layer over your clothes just incase your room isn't warm enough. London was a bit warmer during this time and I often wore pants, short-sleeved shirt and carried a jacket with me. I'm from texas, and know what you mean about heat... so the heat didn't bother me as much as it did a lot of the locals. Although there were days that were a little warmer and shorts were a must for walking out and about and sitting on crowded trains. A lot of people on this forum will tell you to not wear shorts, or to not wear tennis shoes or even baseball caps. But I saw just as many locals doing all of the above. Nike and Adidas are just as popular over there as they are here.

Weather in the UK can be very changeable at any time but will almost certainly be cooler than in New Mexico. What you need to keep in mind is that airconditioning is quite rare - so temps that are not bad if you are in/out of AC houses, cars and buildings can be very uncomfortabel when you have no relief during the entire day/night. London in the summer is usually a high in the low 70's - but I have been there when it was in the low 90's (but only for a couple of days). In Scotland you need to be prepared for the other extreme. One year we were in London during a July "heat wave" (high 80's) and by the time we got to Edinburgh 3 days later it was 45 raining and windy. With layers (long-sleeve shirt, cotton sweater and jean jacket) I was fine - but we ran into some people from Florida and they were realy suffering (both not used to cool weather and had not packed any clothes to layer with because it was summer.)

Thanks for all the great ideas. I know better with my figure than to wear shorts (gag!!!) and was planning on layering. Will take one light weight wool jacket, rain gear (umbrella, wp/wind proof longer microfiber coat) and shoes that are comfortable (I like Land's Ends Clogs) and a good pair of walking shoes. NM's weather can go from being figid in the morning, to sunny and HOT to sleet and snow with gale force winds all in the same day (they don't call it the land of enchantment for nothing I guess :))
Again, many thanks!
Julie